MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Samuel D. Tweah, former Minister of Finance and Development Planning, along with several ex-government officials, has petitioned the First Judicial Circuit Court, Criminal Assizes “C,” to dismiss corruption charges filed against them. The motion, submitted to Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie, argues that the defendants are shielded by national security immunity and executive privilege, challenging the legal foundation of the indictment.
The legal move comes as Tweah and four other former officials face accusations of economic sabotage, theft, and unauthorized disbursement of public funds. The other defendants include Cllr. Nyenati Tuan, former Acting Minister of Justice; Stanley S. Ford, former Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU); D. Moses P. Cooper, former FIU Comptroller; and Jefferson Karmon, former National Security Adviser to former President George Weah. The allegations originate from a Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) investigation triggered by a report from Front Page Africa. The report alleged that $500,000 allocated for IT equipment within the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) was never used for its intended purpose and remains unaccounted for.
In their motion, the defense contends that the charges are unconstitutional, citing the National Security Council Reform and Intelligence Act of 2011. According to the legal team, the act restricts the disclosure of information linked to national security matters. They assert that judicial scrutiny of their actions would violate confidentiality protocols and compromise national security. The motion further emphasizes that the court is not legally positioned to question decisions made under the scope of the National Security Council (NSC).
The defendants’ lawyers referenced international legal standards, including the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Nixon v. Fitzgerald, to bolster their argument for immunity. They claim that the actions under review were part of official duties tied to national security operations and therefore cannot be subjected to criminal prosecution.
During Monday’s court session, government prosecutors refrained from objecting to the defense’s motion but requested additional time to assess the document. They informed the court that the motion was only served to them minutes before the proceedings began. In response, Judge Willie acknowledged their request, stressing that Liberian legal procedures require adequate time for all parties to examine legal filings before arguments are presented.
Judge Willie criticized the defense for filing the motion at 9:37 a.m. on the day of the hearing, stating that no legal instrument would be entertained and ruled on the same day. He suspended further hearings on the motion until Wednesday, February 28, 2025, to allow the prosecution to respond properly.
